Agriculture: Single Farm Payment

Baroness Golding: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a landowner who is in receipt of the single farm payment is entitled to keep receiving all the payment if they sell all or most of the land.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following a land sale, a right to receive the single farm payment can pass to a new owner of the land in relation to which it was received.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Under the single payment scheme (SPS), farmers applied to be allocated payment entitlements, based on the number of eligible hectares at their disposal, as a one-off exercise in 2005. In each year subsequently, farmers have been able to claim a payment against those entitlements to the extent that they have had at their disposal a matching number of eligible hectares and met the other SPS eligibility rules. The matching hectares do not need to be the same as those on which the entitlements were originally allocated. Payment entitlements may also be sold separately from land.
	It follows that those selling land are free to decide whether or not to include entitlements as part of the terms of the sale. If the entitlements are retained when the land is sold, the annual payments may be claimed only if another matching number of eligible hectares are obtained. If the entitlements are not claimed against for two successive years, they are extinguished and the value returned to the national reserve.

Alcohol

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what projections they have of (a) what additional revenue would be generated by a one per cent increase in the taxes on alcohol across the board, (b) what effect that increase would have on consumption, and (c) what the resultant saving would be in public spending on health, criminal justice, social services and other public services.

Lord Sassoon: A 1 per cent increase in all alcohol duties would increase those revenues by approximately £50 million per year.
	Increased duties are passed through into higher retail prices. Higher duties are thus estimated to reduce alcohol consumption. For example, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) estimates that a 1 per cent increase in the price of beer results in a 0.77 per cent decrease in sales in the on trade (ie pubs, bars, clubs etc.) and a 1.11 per cent reduction in sales in the off trade (ie supermarkets, off licenses etc.).
	Consumers' responsiveness to price changes varies by alcohol type and therefore a duty increase across the board would also result in consumers switching between different products. More information on these consumption effects can be found in Table 21 of the following HMRC technical paper available online at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/research/alcohol-consumption-uk.pdf.
	The Government's assessment of the available evidence on the impact of increasing alcohol prices on social outcomes has been set out in the Home Office report available online at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/alcohol-drugs/alcohol/impacts-alcohol-price-review?view=Binary.
	On balance, the evidence suggests that increases in alcohol prices are linked to decreases in harms related to alcohol consumption. However, these relationships are not always straightforward and there is no automatic mechanism translating duty rates increases to savings in public expenditure.

Armed Forces: Aircraft

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what lessons have been learnt from the Anatolian Eagle airforce exercise, in particular on the vulnerability of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Ministry of Defence's lessons identified process raised no concerns about Typhoon's performance during exercise Anatolian Eagle. Typhoon has proved itself an outstanding and highly capable aircraft both in exercises and during its recent deployment on operations over Libya.

Arts: Funding

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they monitor the effect of local authority cuts on the provision of locally-funded arts activities; and what is their estimate of the amount spent by local authorities on the arts for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Baroness Rawlings: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not collate information on local authority arts funding. Decisions on the funding of local authority arts are made at the discretion of local authorities, and central government cannot prescribe how these decisions might be made.
	The Department for Communities and Local Government's (DCLG) final revenue outturn total local authorities expenditure for arts development and support, and final outturn capital total expenditure for culture and heritage (cannot be broken down for arts), in 2009-10 and 2010-11 can be found in the following table:
	
		
			  2009-10 2010-11 
			 Revenue Outturn total expenditure £156,360,000 £154,984,000 
			 Outturn Capital total expenditure £244,555,000 £271,892,000 
		
	
	Figures for 2011-12 are yet to be published.

Autumn Statement

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what detail the Office for Budget Responsibility will be given on the Chancellor of Exchequer's Autumn Statement in order for it to take it fully into account in preparing and publishing the revised economic forecasts.

Lord Sassoon: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has a statutory right to full and timely access to all government information relevant to its analysis. The agreed memorandum of understanding between the OBR and HM Treasury states that the OBR will be provided with any such information it requests and the assistance to understand it. The memorandum was published on the OBR website in April 2011: http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/memorandum-of-understanding/.

Autumn Statement

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was provided with full details of the contents of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's policy proposals contained in his Autumn Statement; and whether this complied with the minimum time requested by the OBR to take such proposals into account in formulating its economic forecasts.

Lord Sassoon: The Office for Budget Responsibility's November Economic and fiscal outlook sets out on page 3 that: "[The OBR] were provided with details of all major policy decisions with a potential impact on the economy forecast on 21 November".
	The OBR confirms on page 189 that "The Economic and fiscal outlook incorporates the Government's costings for policy decisions in the Autumn Statement or announced since the March Budget".

Autumn Statement

Lord Steel of Aikwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29 November, what amount is being given under the Barnett formula to the Scottish Government for infrastructure investment.

Lord Sassoon: As part of the Autumn Statement announcement, the Scottish Government will receive additional capital DEL funding to support infrastructure investment over four years. The amount of this additional funding is set out in the table below:
	
		
			 £ million 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 
			 Additional Capital DEL funding 50 68 142 172

Aviation: Health and Safety

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what monitoring they conduct of the health and safety standards of airlines using British airports; and what action they have taken or will be taking to ensure that acceptable minimum standards are observed.

Lord Freud: All airlines are subject to wide-ranging international legislation and standards in relation to aircraft and flight safety, as well as crew fitness and competence from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). They are also subject to relevant national legislation and standards in their country of origin. In the UK responsibility for standards of in-flight health and safety of flight and cabin crew and passenger health issues rests with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
	Both British and overseas carriers are subject to the requirements of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 when on the ground in airports in Great Britain. HSE investigates accidents, incidents and complaints at British airports in line with published policy and carries out inspections where there is clear evidence of poor performance. In addition HSE may carry out intelligence driven inspection of a poorly performing dutyholder. Where breaches of health and safety legislation are identified enforcement action is taken in line with the HSE enforcement policy.

Banking

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to introduce more competition in the banking sector.

Lord Sassoon: The Government are clear that more competition is needed in the UK banking sector. The Independent Commission on Banking released its final report on 12 September 2011, including recommendations to improve competition. The commission's report can be found at http://bankingcommission.independent. gov.uk/. The Government accept in principle the commission's recommendations to improve competition, and will now consider the proposals in more detail. It is the Government's intention to provide a response to the commission's proposals before the end of the year.
	In particular, the Government welcome the commission's recommendations which build on proposals put forward by the Payments Council in July this year to make it easier for personal customers, small businesses and charities to switch their bank account. The commission's recommendations set out key requirements for the industry to meet in this important area of work. The Government are clear that the new switching proposals need to be fully implemented by September 2013 and will monitor progress closely through quarterly interim reports.

Banking

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to take action to constrain the growth in the United Kingdom of the shadow, or unregulated, banking system, estimated by the Basel Financial Stability Board to be the second largest in the world.

Lord Sassoon: The activities described by the term shadow banking are, by their nature, particularly likely to cross borders. Any risks posed by these activities therefore require global solutions. This is the approach that the Government are taking alongside international partners.
	At the G20 leaders' summit in Seoul, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) was asked to undertake work looking at ways of strengthening regulation and supervision of shadow banking.
	Following on from this, G20 leaders agreed in Cannes to endorse the FSB's initial 11 recommendations with a work plan to develop them further in the course of 2012, building on a balanced approach between indirect regulation of shadow banking through banks and direct regulation of shadow banking activities, including money markets funds, securitisation, securities lending and repo activities, and other shadow banking entities.
	The Government support this approach and look forward to a discussion about policy conclusions at the G20 summit next year.

Banking: Lending

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many companies have signed up for the enterprise finance guarantee scheme to promote lending to small- and medium-sized enterprises.

Baroness Wilcox: The enterprise finance guarantee (EFG) was launched in January 2009. As of the end of September, 16,063 SMEs have been offered EFG loans with a total value of £1.62 billion. Of these, 14,016 SMEs have drawn down loans with a total value of £1.39 billion.

Banking: Northern Rock

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government why it was necessary to obtain the consent of the European Commission before Northern Rock plc was nationalised; and whether any future proposals for nationalisation will require the prior consent of the European Union.

Lord Sassoon: The Government believe a strong state aid framework is important to the maintenance of the single market across the European Union (EU). The framework ensures that member states do not provide unnecessary or disproportionate aid to their banks.
	To allow this would risk wasteful subsidy-races across the EU and would distort competition across the sector, potentially allowing inefficient firms to gain or sustain their market share to the detriment of consumers.

Banking: Northern Rock

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangement was made with the private equity purchasers of Northern Rock plc to claw back further amounts in the event of a future sale of Northern Rock plc, and how this relates to partial sales or sales of an interest in an entity owning an interest in the share capital of Northern Rock plc or Virgin Money.

Lord Sassoon: The deal is structured so that the Government can benefit from any potential upside. The Government will receive the first £50 million to £80 million profit if the business is partially or wholly sold.

Banking: Northern Rock

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish in full the terms imposed on the sale of Northern Rock plc by the European Commission; whether any provision exists to vary those terms; what sanctions are available to the European Commission in the event of non-compliance; and whether the details of the agreement with the European Commission were disclosed to all prospective purchasers of Northern Rock plc.

Lord Sassoon: The deal is expected to complete on 1 January 2012, pending European Commission (EC) merger clearance and Financial Services Authority (FSA) approval.
	The Government will consider what information regarding the Northern Rock sale process can be disclosed following the completion of the transaction.

Banking: Northern Rock

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the amount of excess regulatory capital within Northern Rock above the required 10 per cent tier 1 core capital ratio at the date on which its sale to Virgin Money was agreed.

Lord Sassoon: As reported in Northern Rock plc's half year results 2011, Northern Rock plc held tier 1 capital of £1.12 billion as at 30 June 2011.
	Northern Rock plc had a tier 1 capital ratio of 34.5 per cent as at 30 June 2011.

Banking: Northern Rock

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) whether the agreement for the sale of Northern Rock plc to Virgin Money contains any provision enabling the sale price to be varied or the buyer to withdraw, contingent on any decision by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on the amount of regulatory capital necessary; and (2) whether there are any circumstances in which the buyer is entitled to recoup any element of its fees from the vendor or from Northern Rock plc, including if the FSA agree not to approve the transaction; and (3) whether there is a long-stop date before which (a) the buyer or (b) the vendor can withdraw from the sale.

Lord Sassoon: The deal is expected to complete on 1 January 2012, pending European Commission (EC) merger clearance and Financial Services Authority (FSA) approval.
	The Government will consider what information regarding the Northern Rock sale process can be disclosed following the completion of the transaction.

Banking: Royal Bank of Scotland

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Royal Bank of Scotland's intention to supply personal and financial customer details to third parties and service suppliers unless the customer acts before 1 January 2012 to opt out of the scheme.

Lord Sassoon: The Government have not made an assessment. However, we would expect the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to have undertaken the relevant assessment and to comply with its obligations under the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The Government's shareholding in RBS is managed on an arm's-length and commercial basis by UK Financial Investments. Operational and commercial decisions are for RBS itself.

BBC Trust

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, under the terms of the BBC Charter, a member of the BBC Trust may take up a party political appointment.

Baroness Rawlings: The BBC's charter does not explicitly prohibit a member of the BBC Trust from taking up a party political appointment. The BBC Trust's code of practice, however, states that it is inappropriate for a member of the trust to hold office in a political party or be actively involved in partisan political activities of a significant and continuing nature. Members are entitled to be a member of a political party but must not engage in any overt political activity.

BBC: World Service

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the BBC World Service to focus more of its output towards Central Asia.

Lord Howell of Guildford: Under the terms of the Broadcasting Agreement between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the BBC World Service, the World Service has editorial, operational and managerial independence. The BBC is obliged to set the objectives, priorities and targets for the BBC World Service with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and to obtain the written approval of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for the opening or closure of any language service.
	It is therefore the responsibility of the BBC World Service to focus its efforts in a way which enables it to best meet these priorities.

BBC: World Service

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will encourage the BBC World Service to provide more coverage to news from Central Asian nations.

Lord Howell of Guildford: I refer the noble Lord to the answer to his Question HL13744. It is for the BBC World Service, under its editorial independence, to decide news items it covers.

Benefits

Lord Patel of Blackburn: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether unemployed leaseholders and pensioners living in housing association estates can receive service charge and rate rebates.

Lord Freud: People who are unemployed and receiving income-based jobseeker's allowance, or of qualifying pension age and in receipt of pension credit, may get help with certain service charges which relate to the fabric of the accommodation where a person is liable to meet them under the terms of a long lease of more than 21 years. These housing costs are included as part of their main benefit payment.
	People who are entitled to an income related benefit (income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income related employment and support allowance for working age claimants, and pension credit for those of qualifying pension age) may also receive a full rebate towards their council tax bill through council tax benefit which is paid by their local authority.

Burma

Lord Avebury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what response the Secretary of State for International Development received to his request during his visit to Burma that the Government should release political prisoners; and whether he was given any news of the monks who were detained following the demonstrations of September 2007.

Baroness Northover: During his visit to Burma from 15-17 November, the Secretary of State for International Development pressed President Thein Sein, the Vice President, the Speaker of the Lower House and several Ministers for the unconditional release of all political prisoners, including the monks detained in 2007. He made clear that releasing political prisoners would be a critical indicator of the Burmese Government's intentions. He received assurances that releases were under consideration, but no detail was given on timing. The Vice President indicated that prisoners may be moved nearer to their families, which has now taken place in some cases, including that of the leader of the All-Burma Monks Alliance, U Gambira, who has been moved to a prison in Rangoon.

Business Growth Fund

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many companies have been funded by the Business Growth Fund.

Baroness Wilcox: As of 28 November 2011, the bank-led Business Growth Fund has invested in two companies.
	£4.2 million of growth capital in Benefex, an online provider of employee benefit schemes; and £4.25 million of growth capital in Statesman, a travel management company.
	More information on both companies is available from the Business Growth Fund website: www. businessgrowthfund.co.uk.

Court of the Bank of England

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government on which occasions the Chancellor of the Exchequer has met the chairman of the Court of the Bank of England since the general election.

Lord Sassoon: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
	The Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations, available at: http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm.

Credit Default Swaps

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 16 November (WA 150), whether the Financial Services Authority gives tax credit for credit default swaps acquired when netting down bank gross exposures to a sovereign or private sector borrower and in calculating risk-weighted exposures and capital requirements.

Lord Sassoon: Tax policy is not within the remit of the Financial Services Authority, it is the responsibility of HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs. For corporation tax purposes, provided the credit default swap in question falls within the definition of a derivative contract, as is normally the case, any profit or loss on it is taken into account for tax purposes in the same way as it is for any other kind of financial instrument.

e-Borders

Lord Marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total cost to public funds to date of the e-borders system; and when they expect the system to be fully operational at all points of entry to the United Kingdom.

Lord Henley: In the period from 1 April 2007 to 31 October 2011 the cost of the e-Borders system was £356.9 million.
	e-Borders currently covers 55 per cent of all passenger movements into and out of the UK. By December 2013 it is projected that e-Borders will cover 95 per cent of all air passenger movements and, by December 2014, 95 per cent of all movements.

Economy: Growth

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 16 November (WA 168), what are the key metrics they employ in defining "a stable macro-economic environment"; and whether they include an objective for sterling.

Lord Sassoon: The Government's economic policy objective is to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries.
	The Government's macroeconomic framework includes a monetary policy framework that seeks to deliver low and stable inflation through a symmetric inflation target, not an exchange rate target. Under this regime the exchange rate is allowed to adjust flexibly, reflecting market forces.

Economy: Growth

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the United Kingdom economy to reach the point of "escape velocity" with the economy growing at a rate that would absorb the slack in the economy, as described by Mr Paul Tucker, a Deputy Governor of the Bank of England, in his speech of 22 November.

Lord Sassoon: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. In its latest Economic and fiscal outlook (published 29 November) the OBR forecast growth in gross domestic product of 0.9 per cent in 2011, 0.7 per cent in 2012, 2.1 per cent in 2013, 2.7 per cent in 2014 and 3.0 per cent in both 2015 and 2016. The OBR forecast annual growth in potential output will rise from 1.2 per cent in 2012 to 2.3 per cent in 2014 and later years.

Education: Funding

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps will be taken to alleviate the effects of education budget cuts in deprived parts of the country following the introduction of the national funding formula for schools.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The current system for funding schools results in similar schools in different areas of the country receiving very different levels of funding and is therefore unfair to the pupils in some of those schools.
	In July 2011, we consulted on how to reform the current system so that it is fairer and more transparent. The consultation closed on 11 October and we are considering carefully the responses to that consultation before making decisions on the shape of the new formula.
	As the consultation said, we would apply transitional arrangements to any new formula we introduce.
	We recognise that deprived pupils face greater barriers to achieving and so we have introduced the pupil premium. In 2011-12 the pupil premium will total £625 million. This will rise to £2.5 billion by 2014-15.

Egypt

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Egypt following reports from Physicians for Human Rights in Israel and the New Generation Foundation in Sinai of the alleged torture, organ theft and trafficking of refugees fleeing from African countries across the Sinai Desert.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: We have not discussed these specific reports of torture in the Sinai area with the Egyptian authorities. However, we have previously raised our concerns about Eritreans being held hostage in the Sinai with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and have been in contact with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cairo. We will continue to monitor this issue.

Embryology

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 21 November 2011 (WA 185-6), whether each of the cell lines used in the trial underway at Moorfields Eye Hospital was tested to check whether they exhibited alterations in culture, as recently described in the journal Nature Biotechnology; if so, when; and what were the relevant findings.

Earl Howe: The proposed clinical trial at Moorfields Eye Hospital has been approved following the assessment of the safety and quality of the retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cell line to be used for the treatment of Stargardt's macular dystrophy.
	The sponsor provided details of the manufacture and control of the RPE cell line. The tumorigenic risk associated with the use of the RPE cell line was recognised by the sponsor by the inclusion of nonclinical safety tests and tests to limit the number of potential tumorigenic cells in the cell suspension administered to the patient.
	Following a review by an Expert Advisory Group of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (June 2011) and the Commission on Human Medicines (July and September 2011), the sponsor provided further information, including confirmation that the tests used are sufficiently sensitive to ensure the safety of the RPE cells used. The risk to benefit profile was considered favourable and the trial was granted a clinical trial authorisation.

Finance: Virgin Money

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Mr Wilbur Ross will require the approval of the Financial Services Authority as a person exercising significant influence over Northern Rock plc following the sale of that company to Virgin Money.

Lord Sassoon: As part of the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) approval of the transaction, the FSA is undertaking its change in controller process, which includes appropriate assessment of persons who control 10 per cent or more of the Virgin consortium, the new proposed controller of Northern Rock.

Finance: Virgin Money

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions or correspondence HM Treasury has had with the Financial Services Authority about providing capital relief in support of Virgin Money's proposed acquisition of Northern Rock; and whether Northern Rock will be permitted to repay capital to its new owners.

Lord Sassoon: Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
	The capital requirements for Virgin Money and Northern Rock Plc are a matter for the Financial Services Authority.

Finance: Virgin Money

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the capital of Northern Rock plc will be owned by private equity after its acquisition by Virgin Money; and what percentage of the share capital will be owned by shareholders based in (1) the British Virgin Islands, (2) the Cayman Islands, (3) the Dutch Antilles, (4) Jersey, (5) Guernsey, and (6) the Isle of Man.

Lord Sassoon: The sale of Northern Rock plc to Virgin Money was announced on 17 November 2011.
	This is a matter for Virgin Money.

Finance: Virgin Money

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the identity of the ultimate owners of the companies, hedge funds and trusts acquiring Northern Rock plc.

Lord Sassoon: The sale of Northern Rock plc to Virgin Money was announced on 17 November 2011.
	Virgin Money will be the new owners of Northern Rock plc. The ultimate ownership of Virgin Money is a question for Virgin Money. The transaction is subject to Financial Services Authority approval as regards the change in control.

Finance: Virgin Money

Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay: To ask Her Majesty's Government what enquiries they made into the tax status of Sir Richard Branson, and whether they took that status into account, in considering whether the sale of Northern Rock plc to a consortium led by him would provide good value to the taxpayer.

Lord Sassoon: The Government are unable to comment on individual or company tax arrangements. Any information relating to UK tax liabilities is held by HM Revenue and Customs on a confidential basis.
	HM Treasury has issued guidance to departments which emphasises that departments should base commercial decisions on the need to secure value for money, independent of any tax advantages which may arise from a bid.

Food: Hygiene Inspectors

Baroness Byford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of the charge-out rate for a Food Standards Agency meat hygiene inspector comprises the combined salary and national insurance costs.

Earl Howe: The 2011-12 charge-out rate for a Food Standards Agency (FSA) meat hygiene inspector is £29.20. Of this amount 70 per cent consists of the salaries, employer's national insurance contributions and the costs of contract meat hygiene inspectors not directly employed by the FSA. The other 30 per cent relates to travel costs for operational staff, laundry, equipment, employer's pension contributions, front line support and other essential support costs, such as finance and human resources.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Viscount Waverley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the individual directorates in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; who is the head of each directorate; and what regions, countries or multilateral responsibilities each covers.

Lord Howell of Guildford: The information requested is as follows:
	Europe: Simon Manley; Prosperity (covers Climate Change and Energy and Commercial and Economic Diplomacy): Dominic Martin;Asia Pacific: Peter Wilson;Consular Services: Charles Hay;Migration: Susannah Simon;Africa: Tim Hitchens;National Security: Tom Drew;Cyber Policy: Tim Dowse;Defence and International Security (covers Security Policy and Counter Proliferation): Sarah Maclntosh;Overseas Territories (including Polar Regions and Fisheries): Colin Roberts;Americas: Angus Lapsley;Multilateral Policy (covers the UN, Council of Europe and other International; Organisations; human rights and democracy; and conflict prevention and peacekeeping): Vijay Rangarajan;Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Laurie Bristow;Middle East and North Africa: Christian Turner;South Asia and Afghanistan: Karen Pierce;Additional Director, South Asia: Andrew Patrick;Strategy (includes Communications): Alex Ellis;Economics: Gregor Irwin;Principal Private Secretary (covers Private Offices and Parliamentary Relations): Lindsay Appleby;Chief Information Officer: David Meyer;Corporate Services (includes Corporate Procurement): David Cairns;Human Resources: Menna Rawlings;Protocol: Simon Martin;Olympics and Paralympics: Andrew Mitchell Estates and Security: Alan Croney; andFinance: Alison Currie
	Details of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's organisation for July 2011 with named directors and descriptions of their roles, have also been published at http://data.gov.uk/.

Gaza

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the United Nations Relief and Works Agency's programme for new schools and houses in Gaza; and whether they have any information as to when it will be able to import the necessary materials.

Baroness Northover: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) plans to build 100 schools in Gaza to provide education to the 40,000 Palestinian refugee children currently without a school place. UNRWA has formal approval from the Israeli Authorities to build 42 schools and has already completed five of these. UNRWA has completed 150 houses out of its housing programme and is waiting approval from the Israeli authorities on four new housing projects.
	UNRWA has experienced difficulties in getting the necessary materials for construction into Gaza. UNRWA has estimated that it needs around 15,000 truckloads of materials to complete approved projects; currently its quota of trucks to enter into Gaza stands at approximately 50 a day.
	The UK is working closely with UNRWA on this issue. We continue to press the Israeli Government to ease restrictions on the import of construction materials for international projects, in close co-ordination with the Office of the Quartet Representative and our European partners. We are also supporting the UN Access Co-ordination Unit to work with the Israeli authorities, UN agencies and non-governmental agencies to facilitate the transfer of goods and materials into Gaza.

Gift Aid

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 November (WA 225) regarding benefits that donors can receive in connection with their donation, whether the benefit limits set out in the gift aid legislation permit the receipt of money in return for any single provision of material goods; and, if not, under what circumstances such exchanges would be recognised as donations by the Charity Commission.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Gift Aid applies only to gifts of money and not to the provision of material goods. The Charity Commission has no role in determining what is and is not classified as a charitable donation for Gift Aid purposes.

Gilts

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the total amount of gross and net gilt issuance since May 2011, indicating the figure for redemptions and interest payments, and the total amount of gilt purchases executed by the Bank of England under quantitative easing during the same period, including the reinvestment of interest received and the proceeds from maturing securities held in the portfolio.

Lord Sassoon: The Debt Management Office's (DMO) revised financing remit for 2011-12 was set out in Annex B of HM Treasury's Autumn Statement 2011 document. Data on gilt issuance and redemptions in the financial year to date are available on the DMO's website at: http://www.dmo.gov.uk/index.aspx?page=Gilts/Data.
	Data on gilt coupon payments are available in the DMO's Quarterly Review which is available on the DMO's website at: http://www.dmo.gov.uk/index.aspx? page=publications/Quarterly_Reviews.
	Data on gilts purchases by the Bank of England's asset purchase facility (APF) are available on the Bank of England's website at: http://www.bankofengland. co.uk/markets/apf/gilts/results.htm.

Gold

Lord Stoddart of Swindon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the weight and value in sterling of the United Kingdom's remaining stock of gold.

Lord Sassoon: The United Kingdom holds 310 tonnes of gold denominated assets in the official holdings of international reserves, valued in sterling at the end of October 2011 at £10,669 million.

Government Departments: Buildings

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the Department for Transport.

Earl Attlee: The Department for Transport is currently exploring the feasibility of installing photovoltaic solar systems at a number of sites across the departmental estate. Subject to planning permission and an acceptable payback period these will be progressed as funding allows over the next three to four years.
	The Department for Transport has already installed a number of photovoltaic solar systems at its driving test centres and vehicle testing stations.
	The Department for Transport is committed to carrying forward its successful achievement of the sustainable operations on the government estate (SOGE) energy, business travel, water and waste targets, into achieving the Greening Government Commitments. The department is currently finalising an operations sustainability strategy which will deliver the greenhouse gas, water and waste targets set out in the Greening Government Commitments. This strategy will be published on the Department for Transport website, once finalised, early in the new year.

Government Departments: Buildings

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the Department for International Development.

Baroness Northover: DfID has no firm plans to install photovoltaic solar systems on either of our two UK buildings. This technology was investigated in the past and found to have an uneconomic rate of return on the capital investment.
	A number of our overseas offices, such as Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda have implemented solar panels for either energy generation or water heating.

Government Departments: Buildings

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the Department of Health.

Earl Howe: We currently have no immediate plans to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the department. However, the position will be kept under review.

Government Departments: Buildings

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.

Baroness Wilcox: There are no future plans to install photovoltaics on buildings owned or occupied by the department.

Government Departments: Staff

Lord Tebbit: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 25 October (WA 131-2), what are the representation targets for ethnic origin, disability and gender within the Senior Civil Service; and why policies on representation covering "religion/belief, sexual orientation, age, gender identity and educational/ social background" are to be left to be set by each department.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The 2013 representation targets for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) were set out in Promoting Equality, Valuing Diversity-A Strategy for the Civil Service 2008-13, published by the previous Administration in 2008. They are as follows:
	34 per cent of staff in top management posts to be women;39 per cent of the SCS to be women;5 per cent of the SCS to be staff from black and minority ethnic (BME) backgrounds; and5 per cent of SCS to be disabled people.
	The strategy is currently under review.

Gross Domestic Product

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product was contributed by financial services in each of the past four decades.

Lord Sassoon: The data required to calculate the contribution of financial and insurance services' to gross value added are currently available only back to 1997. The available data show that financial and insurance services contributed 9 per cent to gross value added in 2010 and 8 per cent over the past decade.

Health: Caesarean Sections

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of updated guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, what estimate they have made of the expected increase in caesarean section rates in the United Kingdom resulting from women being given the right to choose a caesarean section.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of updated guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, what estimate they have made of the expected increased cost to the National Health Service resulting from women being given the right to choose a caesarean section.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of updated guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, what assessment they have made of the health impact on women requesting an unplanned caesarean section in the first or second stage of labour.
	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the publication of updated guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, what assessment they have made of the impact on maternity unit staff of women being given the right to choose a caesarean section.

Earl Howe: On 23 November the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published Caesarean Section (Update) Costing Report-Implementing Nice Guidance in which it set out its assumptions on the assessment activity and cost to the National Health Service of implementing the guidance in England. We have made no separate assessment of the likely impact of the updated guidance.

Independent Commission on Banking

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the recommendations of the Independent Commission on Banking will be implemented.

Lord Sassoon: The Government have committed to implement resulting measures from the Independent Commission on Banking recommendations by 2019, with any necessary primary legislation in place by 2015. A more detailed timetable will be outlined in the government response due to be published by the end of the year.

Israel and Palestine

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel about the transfer of Palestinian land to Kibbutz Merav; and whether they will raise the matter with the Quartet.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We view any attempts to change the facts on the ground as a serious provocation likely to raise tensions and cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, as well as being harmful to the peace process and in contravention of international law. The UK has a good record of lobbying hard on these issues and has regularly discussed with the Quartet.
	We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Israel and Palestine: West Bank

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of proposals for new building in the colonies of Ma'ale Adumin, Betar Ilit, Modi'in Ilit, Alfey Menashe, Efrat, Qarney Shomron, Bet Arye, Oramit and Qiryat Arba, all in the West Bank.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We regularly make clear that Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories are illegal under international law and deeply unhelpful to efforts to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East conflict.
	The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt) and our ambassador in Tel Aviv have all raised the issue of settlements with the Israeli authorities. The Foreign Secretary most recently condemned settlement activity publicly in his statements of 2 and 9 November.

Israel and Palestine: West Bank

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel regarding action to re-house people made homeless this year in Area C of the West Bank as a result of government-ordered house demolitions; and whether they will discuss the pending demolition orders in Area C with the Government of Israel and the Quartet.

Lord Howell of Guildford: We remain concerned about evictions and demolitions of Palestinian property in the West Bank. The UK has a good record of lobbying hard on issues relating to house demolitions, settlement building and plans to re-locate residents of Area C in the Occupied Territories.
	We view any attempts to change the facts on the ground as a serious provocation likely to raise tensions and cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, as well as being harmful to the peace process and in contravention of international law.
	Our ambassador to Tel Aviv has recently registered the strength of the UK's concerns to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office over pending demolition orders in the West Bank. He also discussed the safety and well being of those displaced.
	We are also actively discussing these issues within the European Union and with the Office of the Quartet Representative.

Legislation

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what legislation, passed during the 2005-10 Parliament, is the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence and has yet to be brought into force, either in full or in part.

Lord Astor of Hever: The Ministry of Defence was responsible for one piece of primary legislation during the 2005-10 Parliament; namely, the Armed Forces Act 2006. This Act was fully brought into force by 31 October 2009.

Legislation

Lord Kennedy of Southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what legislation, passed during the 2005-10 Parliament, is the responsibility of the Department of Health and has yet to be brought into force, either in full or in part.

Earl Howe: The following table shows the provisions concerned. We have not included provisions that are partially in force, provisions that have been implemented in certain areas of the United Kingdom only or provisions that have since been repealed.
	
		
			 Act Provisions not yet in force 
			 Health Act 2006 Section 36(2) 
			 NHS Redress Act 2006 Sections 1-16 
			 Mental Health Act 2007 Section 38(3)(a) and (d), 38(6), 38(7)(a), 38(9) 
			 Health and Social Care Act 2008 Sections 98(2), 99-106, 107(2)-(3), 107(5), 109, 118(2)(b) and (d), 128, 141; 
			  Schedule 6 (paragraphs 15-16); 
			  Schedule 7 (paragraphs 1-10, 12-45, 47-51); 
			  Schedule 8 (paragraph 10); 
			  Schedule 10 (paragraphs 7, 9, 14-15, 18, 27); 
			  Schedule 14 (paragraphs 1, 8) 
			 Health Act 2009 Sections 14, 26-32; 
			  Schedule 4 (paragraphs 7(1), 7(3)-(4), 8, 9(1)) 
			 Personal Care at Home Act 2010 Sections 1-2

National Insurance

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many companies have successfully applied for the national insurance holiday for small companies.

Lord Sassoon: To date, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs has received just over 10,000 applications for the regional national insurance contributions (NICs) holiday scheme.
	Further information on successful applications for the NICs holiday will be made available in a factsheet which will shortly be deposited in the Libraries of the Houses of Parliament.

National School of Government

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 26 October (WA 161-2), how many (1) civil servants, and (2) other staff, are employed by the National School of Government, and where those officials are employed.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: As at 30 October 2011 the National School of Government employed 174 civil servants which includes staff loaned in from other government departments, staff out on loan to other government departments, staff on secondment to non-Civil Service organisations and those on career breaks. Of the 174, 154 are based in Sunningdale with a small number based at our sites in Edinburgh and London.

NHS: Operating Framework

Lord Willis of Knaresborough: To ask Her Majesty's Government how the 2012-13 NHS Operating Framework will be taken forward by the NHS Commissioning Board.

Earl Howe: The NHS Operating Framework 2012-13 applies to the current delivery system of primary care trusts and strategic health authorities.
	Subject to parliamentary approval of the Health and Social Care Bill, the NHS Commissioning Board will take on its full statutory duties from April 2013.

NHS: Waiting Times

Baroness Smith of Basildon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average waiting time for elective surgery in each month since May 2010, by hospital trust.

Earl Howe: The information has been placed in the Library.

North Africa and the Middle East

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will assist the Arab Financing Facility for Infrastructure and the Cross-border Trade Facilitation and Infrastructure Programme; and, if so, to what extent and by what means.

Baroness Northover: There are no current plans to assist the Arab Financing Facility for Infrastructure and the Cross-border Trade Facilitation and Infrastructure programme.
	The UK has established a dedicated Arab Partnership Fund to support political and economic reform and transition in the Middle East and North Africa over the next four years. This comprises a £40 million Arab Partnership Participation Fund to support political reform managed by the FCO and a £70 million Arab Partnership Economic Facility (APEF) managed by my department. The APEF will support job creation, economic growth and effective and accountable financial institutions. Programming of this funding is currently underway.

North Africa and the Middle East

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to offer improved access to United Kingdom markets to (1) countries in south-east Europe which are not members of the European Union, and (2) emerging democracies in the Middle East and North Africa.

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: United Kingdom trade relations are determined through the European Union, which has a common external trade policy across all member states.
	With regard to countries in south-east Europe, the EU has since 2000 offered preferential access to practically all products originating from countries in the region which are not members of the EU. This includes access through the implementation of more recent stabilisation and association agreements (SAAs) with Albania, Croatia, Macedonia and Montenegro; and through interim SAAs with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. The EU is currently renewing its autonomous trade preferences for the western Balkans, which apply to Kosovo. A delay to this process has led to these preferences lapsing since the beginning of the year. However, we expect these to be back in place shortly, and for Kosovan traders to be able to reclaim any duties they have paid.
	With regard to emerging democracies in the Middle East and North Africa, the UK has led the calls for an ambitious EU trade response, including a timely intervention by the Prime Minister at the European Council in March 2011. There are already association agreements in place with key emerging democracies in the region, which provide for a significant amount of free trade. The EU and its member states have signaled at the political level a willingness further to enter into negotiations on deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (DCFTAs) with Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia, which promise even greater market access as long as the countries concerned continue on the path to democracy and good governance.

Nuclear Weapons

Lord Ashcroft: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 15 November (WA 139), which countries that have or are developing nuclear weapons are receiving aid from the United Kingdom.

Baroness Northover: There is no recognised list of countries developing nuclear weapons, but to the best of our knowledge DfID does not operate bilateral aid programmes in any country developing nuclear weapons. The countries which the UK spends aid on are listed in the Statistics for International Development (SID) 2011, available at www.dfid.gov.uk.

Pakistan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to monitor the use of aid given to Pakistan to enhance education, to ensure that it is not diverted to the teaching of radical fundamentalism or intolerance, and that such aid assists in the promotion of mutual respect, freedom of speech and religion, and tolerance of minorities.

Baroness Northover: Pakistan is facing an education emergency; in response the UK Government will get 4 million more children into school by 2015. To help ensure that UK aid is not being used to support the teaching of hate in Pakistani schools, the Department for International Development (DfID) is working with the Pakistani authorities to: support a curriculum audit and a textbooks development process to ensure all textbooks promote peace and co-existence; improve teachers' recruitment and training processes; and strengthen the education system so that poor children have access to mainstream schooling.
	All of DfID's education programmes in Pakistan are carefully monitored, including through third party verification as necessary, to make sure that aid is reaching its intended recipients and delivers results.

Pakistan

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances they have had from partners in Pakistan, and what independent monitoring ensures, that aid provided for educational purposes is being used cost-effectively and for educational goals and not to fund any madrassas promoting intolerance or fanaticism.

Baroness Northover: Pakistan is facing an education emergency; in response the UK Government will get 4 million more children into school by 2015. To help ensure that UK aid is being used cost effectively for educational purposes, the Department for International Development's (DfID's) education programmes in Pakistan are carefully monitored, including through third party verification as necessary, to make sure that aid is reaching its intended recipients and delivers results, and is not funding any madrassas promoting intolerance or fanaticism.

Palestine

Lord Turnberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that Palestinian school textbooks, funded by the United Kingdom Government, do not contain incitements to violence and racism.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government do not directly fund the textbooks used in Palestinian schools. We provide financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority (PA) to provide essential services, including education. UK aid will support 35,000 children through primary school over the next four years.
	The content of all PA textbooks is approved by the United Nations. Textbooks used in Palestinian Authority schools have also been approved by the Israeli Ministry of Education for use in Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem. Given that these textbooks are issued under Israeli supervision, it is difficult to see how they could contain anti-Semitic material. Recent independent studies have found no evidence of anti-Semitism or incitement in textbooks issued by the Palestinian Authority. However, at least one study has shown that both Israeli and Palestinian textbooks could include more positive and balanced messages on these issues. We support that message.

Palestine

Lord Turnberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recent report from the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education about the promulgation of anti-semitic and anti-Christian statements in school textbooks in the Palestinian Territories outside Jerusalem.

Baroness Northover: The UK Government are cautious about accepting the findings of the Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education (IMPACT-SE) report on school textbooks in the Palestinian Territories without a rigorous demonstration of their objectivity and accuracy. For example, IMPACT-SE was unable to provide the original publication dates for the quoted references to demonstrate that they were current publications, and not old books inherited from Egyptian and Jordanian sponsored education programs. Credible studies from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, the Congressional Research Service and the United States State Department, which have all investigated the issue, show no evidence of incitement or hatred against Israel. However, at least one study has shown that both Israeli and Palestinian textbooks could include more positive and balanced messages on these issues. We support that approach.
	The content of all Palestinian Authority textbooks is approved by the United Nations. Textbooks used in Palestinian Authority schools have also been approved by the Israeli Ministry of Education for use in Palestinian schools in East Jerusalem. Given that these textbooks are issued under Israeli supervision, it is difficult to see how they could contain anti-Semitic material.

Palestine

Lord Turnberg: To ask Her Majesty's Government what role the World Bank has played in the scrutiny of the use of the aid provided by the United Kingdom Government for education in the Palestinian Territories outside Jerusalem.

Baroness Northover: The UK supports the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide education to Palestinian children in the West Bank and Gaza. All UK financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority is provided through a World Bank Trust Fund, which carries out close monitoring of PA expenditure across all sectors to ensure that the budget is being spent according to Palestinian annual budget law and international standards. The World Bank plays no role in the scrutiny of funding to UNRWA.

Pensions

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 14 November (WA 115), whether the analysis of public sector pension schemes' liability published in Cm 8127 included those in Northern Ireland and Scotland; and how many and which "other unfunded" public sector pension schemes were included, and which were excluded.

Lord Sassoon: Cm 8127 is the Whole of Government Accounts Unaudited Summary Report for the year ended 31 March 2010. This included an analysis of the net public services pension liability, including those in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
	The pension liability of all employers participating in the major unfunded public service pension schemes, such as the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme or Teachers' Pension Scheme, are included within the net public service pension liability reported in the Whole of Government Accounts, even for private sector employers participating in the scheme. So, for example, the pension liabilities in respect of independent schools participating in the Teachers' Pension Scheme are included within the net pension liability.
	The pension liability of employers participating in other funded and unfunded pension schemes are included within the net public service pension liability reported in the Whole of Government Accounts only if that employer is within the Whole of Government Accounts. So, for example, the pension liability of private sector employers participating in the Local Government Pension Scheme through admitted body status are not included within the net pension liability in the Whole of Government Accounts.
	Note 8.2 to the summary account provided an analysis of the liability by type of scheme, including "other unfunded" pension schemes with a total unaudited liability of £21.6 billion. 145 bodies reported balances which made up this liability figure. The most significant amounts were accounted for by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Pension Scheme (£6.0 billion), the Research Councils Pension Scheme (£3.5 billion), the Judicial Pension Scheme (£2.4 billion), and the Department for International Development Overseas Superannuation (£1.3 billion). Other balances were reported by the bodies listed below. Note that many of these bodies contributed to both funded and unfunded schemes. Of these, some £7.3 billion was reported by local authorities that were not specifically police or fire authorities but that had staff in the Police and Fire Pension Schemes and recognised their proportion of the scheme liabilities in the other unfunded category.
	
		
			 Aberdeen City Council 
			 Bath and North East Somerset Council 
			 Birmingham City Council 
			 Blackpool Borough Council 
			 Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council 
			 Bournemouth Council 
			 Bradford City Council 
			 Braintree District Council 
			 Brecon Beacons National Park Authority 
			 Brent London Borough Council 
			 Bridgend County Borough Council 
			 British Broadcasting Corporation 
			 Bristol City Council 
			 Bury Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Caerphilly County Borough Council 
			 Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Cardiff City and County Council 
			 Cherwell District Council 
			 Cheshire East Unitary Authority 
			 Cheshire West and Chester Unitary Authority 
			 Christchurch Borough Council 
			 City of York Council 
			 Clackmannanshire Council 
			 Common Council of the City of London 
			 Consumer Focus (BIS) 
			 Conwy County Borough Council 
			 Cornwall Unitary Authority 
			 County Durham Unitary Authority 
			 Coventry City Council 
			 Craven District Council 
			 Cumbria County Council 
			 Darlington Borough Council 
			 Denbighshire County Council 
			 Derby City Council 
			 Derbyshire County Council 
			 Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Dumfries and Galloway Council 
			 East Dunbartonshire Council 
			 East Midlands Regional Development Agency 
			 East of England Development Agency 
			 Enfield London Borough Council 
			 Environment Agency 
			 Equality and Human Rights Commission (GEO) 
			 Fareham Borough Council 
			 Fife Council 
			 Flintshire County Council 
			 Gateshead Council 
			 Gloucestershire County Council 
			 Gosport Borough Council 
			 Hampshire County Council 
			 Harborough District Council 
			 Hart District Council 
			 Havering London Borough Council 
			 Herefordshire Council 
			 Hertfordshire County Council 
			 Homes and Communities Agency (CLG) 
			 Isle of Wight Council 
			 Islington London Borough Council 
			 Kirklees Metropolitan Council 
			 Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Lancashire County Council 
			 Leeds City Council 
			 Lincolnshire County Council 
			 Liverpool City Council 
			 London Thames Gateway UDC 
			 Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority 
			 Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council 
			 Monmouthshire County Council 
			 Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne City Council 
			 Newham London Borough Council 
			 Newport City Council 
			 Norfolk County Council 
			 North London Waste Authority 
			 North Somerset Council 
			 North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 North West Regional Development Agency 
			 North Yorkshire County Council 
			 Northamptonshire County Council 
			 Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment 
			 Northern Ireland Housing Executive 
			 Northern Ireland Office 
			 Northumberland Unitary Authority 
			 Nottingham City Council 
			 Nottinghamshire County Council 
			 OFCOM 
			 Office of Fair Trading 
			 Office of Gas and Electricity Markets 
			 Office of Rail Regulation 
			 Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 One North East 
			 Oxfordshire County Council 
			 Pembrokeshire County Council 
			 Portsmouth City Council 
			 Powys County Council 
			 Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council 
			 Royal Hospital, Chelsea 
			 Salford City Council 
			 Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Scottish Legal Aid Board 
			 Sedgemoor District Council 
			 Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Serious Organised Crime Agency 
			 Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 South Cambridgeshire District Council 
			 South Gloucestershire Council 
			 South Lakeland District Council 
			 South Oxfordshire District Council 
			 South Tyneside Council 
			 South West England Development Agency 
			 St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Stoke-on-Trent City Council 
			 Stratford-on-Avon District Council 
			 Suffolk County Council 
			 Sunderland City Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Surrey County Council 
			 Swansea City and County Council 
			 Tenant Services Authority (CLG) 
			 The Valuation Tribunal Service 
			 Torbay Council 
			 Torfaen County Borough Council 
			 Torridge District Council 
			 Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Transport for London 
			 Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Authority 
			 Vale of Glamorgan County Council 
			 Vale of White Horse District Council 
			 Wakefield City Council 
			 Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Warwickshire County Council 
			 Water Services Regulation Authority 
			 West Dunbartonshire Council 
			 West Oxfordshire District Council 
			 West Sussex County Council 
			 Westminster City Council 
			 Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council 
			 Wolverhampton City Council 
			 Worcestershire County Council 
			 Wrexham County Borough Council

Planning

Lord Christopher: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will call in the several planning applications to Westminster City Council in respect of Burlington Arcade.

Baroness Hanham: The general approach of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities unless it is necessary to do so and his policy is to be very selective about calling in planning applications. In light of the established call-in criteria, as laid out in 16 June 1999 (Official Report, col. 138W), the Secretary of State has no current intention to call-in the planning applications currently before Westminster City Council in respect of Burlington Arcade. It will be for locally elected councillors to decide.

Post Office Ltd

Lord Myners: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 21 November (WA 207), what arrangements exist for Post Office Ltd's clients to decide the products and services offered by Post Office Ltd; and what steps have been taken to publicise those arrangements.

Baroness Wilcox: The arrangements under which products and services are offered by Post Office Ltd are determined by the commercial and operational requirements of its clients and the commercial and operational capability of Post Office Ltd. These are part of the commercial arrangements agreed between the two and will vary on a case by case basis.

Questions for Written Answer

Lord Laird: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will place in the Library of the House on a monthly basis the number of Questions for Written Answer to each government department and the number of questions unanswered within 10 working days.

Lord Strathclyde: The number of Questions for Written Answer remaining unanswered after 10 working days by each government department are published every sitting day in House of Lords Business. We have no plans to place additional statistics in the Library of the House.

Railways: Franchises

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Atlee on 8 November (WA 41), what was the net cost to public funds of each railway franchise in 2010-11.

Earl Attlee: Information on subsidy and premium payments in respect of all passenger rail franchises is published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) in National Rail Trends. This is available on the ORR's website at www.rail-reg.gov.uk. Copies are also available in the Libraries of the House.

Schools: Value-based Education

Lord Janner of Braunstone: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the values-based approach in education as taught in schools such the Chantry Primary School in Luton.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The department does not, as a rule, assess different approaches to education. All state schools are required to provide a balanced and broadly based curriculum which promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils and prepares them for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life.
	Schools are free to adopt a values-based education, such as the one used by Chantry Primary School, to develop an ethos of care and respect for themselves and others.
	Chantry school is to be congratulated on its latest Ofsted report.

Shipping: Single-hulled Ships

Lord Moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the removal of all single-hulled ships from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, and for their replacement.

Lord Astor of Hever: The remaining single hulled tankers will be replaced by the Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability (MARS) tankers as soon as practicable. Final bids have been requested from the bidders in the MARS tanker competition and we expect to announce the winning bidder next year.
	I am withholding information on the planned delivery schedule as its disclosure would prejudice the department's commercial interests.

Standards for England

Lord Greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to abolish Standards for England; and what action they are taking on complaints that are currently being dealt with by Standards for England.

Baroness Hanham: It is expected that the Standards Board for England will cease its regulatory functions on 31 January 2012; any complaints being dealt with by the board on that date will be transferred back to the authority that originated the complaint; and that the board will be abolished no later than 31 March.

Surveillance: Telecommunications

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 21 November (HL 13294) that officials of the United Kingdom Government National Technical Authority for Information Assurance met the company, Creativity Software, in March 2009, before surveillance technology was sold to Iran, (1) what was discussed at the meeting; (2) what assessment was made by the Authority of the use to which the technology could be put in controlling a civilian population; (3) which Ministers were told about the exports; (4) why the export of this equipment was not reviewed with Creativity Software as details of human rights issues in Iran became publicly documented; and (5) which other companies selling similar technology in the region were also interviewed by the authority.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: (1) Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG) discussed the technical specifications of Creativity Software's products;
	(2) CESG's role is to advise BIS as to whether a product meets the criteria for control as set out under category 5 of the UK Strategic Export Control Lists;
	(3) As the product was not subject to export control no Ministers were informed;
	(4) The product is not subject to export control. There was therefore nothing to review; and
	(5) CESG discusses potential exports with those seeking export control licences when appropriate for their area of technical expertise;
	Surveillance technology is not controlled under our current export licensing system as there are many legitimate uses for this technology.
	However, the Government take their export control responsibilities very seriously and do not license the export of controlled equipment where there is a clear risk that it could be used for internal repression or human rights abuses. We take any reports of exports being misused overseas very seriously, and the extent to which export controls should apply to surveillance equipment is something that the Government are actively considering.

Surveillance: Telecommunications

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in replying to the oral question from Lord Alton of Liverpool on 28 November, to the effect that under the United Kingdom export control regime United Kingdom companies do not need permission to export surveillance software, Baroness Wilcox took account of the provisions of the Wassenaar Arrangement.

Baroness Wilcox: Yes. The controls on dual-use items are contained in Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items. These controls are based on the technical agreements reached in the non-proliferation regimes and the Wassenaar Arrangement. Under this regulation, there is no requirement for licensing of the goods to which I referred in my Answer on 28 November.

Surveillance: Telecommunications

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Wilcox on 28 November, whether they have considered the implications of the Wassenaar Arrangement and, in particular, dual use list category 5, part 2, for the export of surveillance technology in respect of equipment and software for executing signals collection from mobile phone systems.

Baroness Wilcox: Yes. The controls on dual-use items are contained in Council Regulation (EC) No 428/ 2009 setting up a Community regime for the control of exports, transfer, brokering and transit of dual-use items that derive from the Wassenaar Arrangement and the other non-proliferation regimes.
	As explained in my Answer on 28 November, the term "surveillance technology" is problematic. The export of any dual-use equipment or software would, however, be considered against the control lists within Council Regulation (EC) No 428/2009.
	On the wider question, of how best to control equipment and software for executing signals collection from mobile phone systems, this is an issue that has been discussed in the Expert Group Meetings of the Wassenaar Arrangement this year. In view of the complex nature of these discussions, further work will be required before a suitable control can be established.

Surveillance: Telecommunications

Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what account was taken of sub-paragraphs c and e of the note to Munitions List ML11.a of the Wassenaar Arrangement, which make provision for the prohibition of the export of equipment capable of signal collection from mobile phone systems, in permitting the sale of surveillance technology to repressive regimes.

Baroness Wilcox: The controls in Munitions List ML11 (ML11) would only be relevant in those circumstances where the equipment to be exported is "specially designed" for military use. Licence applications would be considered against the Consolidated EU and UK Export Licensing Criteria, in the light of prevailing circumstances, and paying particular attention to allegations of human rights abuses and internal repression.
	In the context of the concern expressed by the noble Lord in his supplementary question on 28 November about the exports of this equipment by Creativity Software, this equipment is not "specially designed" for military use and not therefore subject to the controls of ML11.

Taxation

Lord Christopher: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the present basis on which share options, long-term investment plans and deferred pay and bonuses are taxed; and what determines the tax year for which each stage is chargeable.

Lord Sassoon: Special rules apply where securities (such as shares), interests in securities or securities options are acquired in connection with employment.
	The grant or exercise of share options and the acquisition of securities in connection with employment are not normally subject to income tax or NICs where they take place under one of the Government's tax-advantaged share schemes. In other cases, income tax and NICs may be due where certain chargeable events occur, such as the exercise of the option by an employee. The taxable amount due is calculated in accordance with a formula that takes into account the market value of the shares and any consideration paid for the shares by the employee.
	The rules for share-based long term incentive plans depend on the detail of the plan-including any restrictions attached to shares or other securities, the detail of any forfeiture conditions that apply and the point at which the shares or securities are allocated to an employee. In general there is a chargeable event for tax purposes where an employee acquires value from the securities, for example through the lifting of restrictions.
	When income tax and NICs are due in respect of employment-related securities, these will usually be collected under PAYE when the relevant chargeable event occurs.
	There are no special rules for the taxation of deferred pay and bonuses and the normal rules for taxing earnings from an employment apply. Payments of deferred pay and bonuses are generally subject to tax under pay as you earn (PAYE) at the time of receipt, which means the earlier of actual payment or entitlement to payment. For company directors, there are some additional events to take into account in establishing when the earnings have been received.
	Following attempts by employers and employees to avoid, defer or reduce PAYE and NICs liabilities by structuring arrangements and using third parties to disguise the true entitlement of the employee, legislation was introduced in Finance Act 2011 to deal with disguised remuneration arrangements.
	The new law does not affect employment income provided directly by an employer or normal remuneration structures involving another company in the same group. Establishing an individual's overall liability for any given tax year will depend on the year, or years, in which the given payment is attributed and will ultimately be a question to be determined on the facts in each case.

Transport: MoT Scheme

Lord Bradshaw: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Atlee on 16 November (WA 168), what aspects of MoT tests they consider impose a burden on motorists.

Earl Attlee: An MoT test inevitably involves a cost to the motorist in the MOT fee. The review will help identify what motorists consider a burden in this area.

Unemployment: Under 25s

Lord Harrison: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration has been given to extending the national insurance contributions holiday to existing businesses who employ a person aged 18-24.

Lord Sassoon: On 25 November, the Government announced an ambitious programme for tackling youth unemployment. Starting in 2012, the youth contract will deliver:
	an additional 250,000 work experience or sector based work academy places for every unemployed 18-24 year-old;more Jobcentre Plus support for 18-24 year-olds, including extra adviser time and a careers interview from the National Careers Service and weekly, rather than fortnightly, signing;a total of 160,000 wage incentive places (at £2,275 each) to make it easier for employers to take on young people; additional funding to support the growth of 16-24 apprenticeships, ensuring the funding for at least 40,000 incentive payments (at £1,500 each) for employers next year to raise demand for 16-24 apprenticeships; anda new £50 million a year programme for those 16 and 17 year-olds not in employment, education or training to get them learning, on an apprenticeship or in a job with training.

War Memorials

Lord Morris of Manchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the war memorial statue stolen in Tidworth on 17 October has yet been traced; and whether charges have been brought.

Lord Henley: Wiltshire police report that enquiries continue in relation to the reported theft of a statue on 17 October 2011. No charges have yet been brought.

Young People: Creative Industries

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions have taken place between ministers in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Education concerning the preparation of children for careers in the creative industries.

Lord Hill of Oareford: The Government want the creative industries to be able to draw on the highly skilled workforce they need to be dynamic and achieve sustainable growth. The Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport frequently discuss issues of common interest including those relating to the creative industries.
	We want young people to raise their aspirations, understand the full range of education and career opportunities open to them and achieve their potential. From September 2012, schools will be placed under a duty to secure access to independent, impartial careers guidance for their pupils. The guidance should include information on the full range of academic and vocational options, including in areas where pupils might have an aptitude and interest such as the creative arts.
	The National Skills Academy-Creative and Cultural has been successful in increasing career opportunities for young people in the creative sector. Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the creative industries, offers a package of support for young people considering careers in the creative industries.